Use of Information Resources & Services at Osmania University, Hyderabad M. Shiva Reddy Assistant Librarian Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology Gandipet Main Rd, Kokapet, Hyderabad, Telangana 500075 e-mail: sivareddy235@gmail.com ABSTRACT The information plays vital role in this digital environment. This has become possible because of the technological advancements and changing information needs of the users. Technology has dominated all spheres of human activity and the libraries are not an exception one. The new storage media have appeared after the invention of storage devices like microforms, magnetic tapes, compact discs etc have found their places in modern libraries and are playing vital role in storage and dissemination of information. This study is indented to know the awareness of the students and use of library information resources and services in Osmania University. The study is compiled with data from questionnaire. The Final results revealed that the adequacy of library resources, opinion on e-resources vs. print sources, reasons for using e- resources, satisfaction on sources of information provisions. In this study, recommendations are made to the collection of Theses / Dissertation should be improved and availed for consultation of students and also awareness should be created on the use of e-resources availability in the University Libraries. Keywords: Use of Library Information Sources and Services, University Library Introduction The university library is one of the best agencies for collecting and organizing knowledge for effective use, and for providing the services and physical facilities to encourage it. The library exists not merely to help the instructional functions of the university; it does also a good deal in aid of research, which is another major function of the university. The university library, therefore, performs a variety of functions, by helping the students by providing text books, reference books and periodicals, and other materials by providing a large number of bibliographical tools and up-to-date literature on every subject for users; as well as by maintaining an efficient reference and information service including e-resources. This study is intended to know the use of library resources and services, information needs of the readers, to know the adequacy of resources and the problems in using library are discussed. Library Sources and Services The information plays vital role in this digital environment. This has become possible because of the technological advancements and changing information needs of the users. Technology has dominated all spheres of human activity and the libraries are not an exception one. The new storage media have appeared after the invention of storage devices like microforms, magnetic tapes, compact discs etc have found their places in modern libraries and are playing vital role in storage and dissemination of information. Since the mid eighties, developments in computer technology have established a new platform for the use 179
of information technologies for libraries and information centres. These developments includes spreading of high performance and cost effective computers, local area networks, high bandwidth of internet, digitization of printed information, and high-density storage and distribution media such as CD-ROMs/DVDs. Due to developments in technological advancements, sources like electronic journals, e-books, e-databases, pre-prints, numerical and graphical data, library catalogue, educational materials, patents, standards, and so on are available on the Web. Apart from providing lot of information, the web also provides lots of information services like table of content page, electronic document delivery, reference service over the web, database access, indexing and abstracting, referral service, bibliographic search, and so on. The availability of information in the electronic media has created an opportunity for global access to information. Review of Literature Haji Aghajani and others (2009) carried out a survey on Library resources and Services use for study by students of medical Sciences in Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 2006-07. This study is an attempt to evaluate student use of information resources and library services in Semnan Univarsity of Medical Sciences and Health Services. Devendra Kumar and Rajkumar Singh(2009) have examined the use of services by the users by National Science Library (NSL), New Delhi, India. This study demonstrates and elaborates a various aspects of NSL collections uses within the available resources, frequency and purposes of visit, user satisfaction within NSL services and information about documents. Zainab(2001) has carried out a study on Library Resources and Services and Publication Productivity. Present the results of a study that compares the perceived adequacy of library resources for research, the formal channels found to be useful in providing information needed for research, the methods used to keep abreast with current research literature, the problems faced when obtaining information required for research with publication productivity of 83 academic engineers and 239 academic scientists from the University of Malaya and National University of Malaysia. Devendra Kumar and others(2010) have examined the expectations of faculty members and research scholars towards library resources and services at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. It analyzes the various aspects of library collection usage, frequency and purposes of library visits, and user satisfaction of library services. It also relates major problems that hinder faculty members and research scholars from using the library. Objectives The following are the objectives of the study: (1) To assess the adequacy, availability and accessibility of library collection in Osmania University Library. (2) To examine their awareness and satisfaction with regard to information sources and services available in university library, (3) To know the use and awareness of electronic information resources among the users and (4) To make suggestions for betterment of information sources and services in university libraries. 180
Scope of the study The study is undertaken to explore the use of library resources and services of postgraduate students and their perception on information sources and services in the surveyed Osmania University to find the ways and means to promote the existing system. Methodology The survey method was used in this study. Question tool was used to collect data from the students. 250 questionnaires were distributed to the students following accidental sampling method. The researcher received 200 questionnaires out of 250. After collecting data required for the study, the data was analysed and interpreted in the form of tables and graphs. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA Adequacy of Library Resources Library is considered as hub of information and ocean of knowledge. It possesses myriad resources to meet the information needs of the students. The information has been elicited from the respondents to whether their library possesses adequate resources or not he replies given by them are shown in the Table-1. Table-1 Adequate of Library Resources Reply Discipline Chi-Square Arts Science χ2 = 0.235 @ p= 0.628 df= 1 Yes 86 (93.48) 99 (91.67) No 6 (6.52) 9 (8.33) Table value = 3.84 Total 92 (100) 108 (100) The table-1 presents that 86 respondents (93.48%) of Arts and 99 respondents (91.67%) of Science discipline opined that their library has adequate resources for their use and mere 6 respondents (6.52%) of arts and 9 respondents (8.337%) of science disciplined opined that their library has no adequate resources for their use. By and large, 93.48% respondents of Arts and 91.67% respondents of Science discipline opined that their library has adequate resources for their use. The Chi-square value is insignificant and hence it can be inferred that the opinion of the respondents that their library has adequate resources is not significant. Satisfaction level on library resources From the table-2 it is observed that majority of the respondents of both arts and science respondents opined that their library has adequate resources for their use. The information on the level of satisfaction of the respondents over the available resources in the library has been elicited and presented in the Table-2. 181
Table-2 shows that 40 respondents (46.51%) of Arts and 62 respondents (62.63%) of Science discipline satisfied to a large extent over the available resources in the library, 27 respondents (31.40%) of Arts and 20 respondents (20.2%) of Science discipline satisfied to some extent and the remaining respondents satisfied very less extent over the available resources in the library. It is concluded that 46.51% of Arts respondents and 62.63% of the Science respondents satisfied to a large extent over the available resources in the library. The Chisquare value is insignificant and hence it can be inferred that the level of satisfaction of the respondents over the available resources in the library is not significant. Satisfaction on digital information sources and services The library possesses digital information sources and services. The information on whether the respondents satisfied over digital information sources and services available in the library have been derived and the details are furnished in Table-3. Table-3 Satisfaction on digital information sources and services Level of Extent Discipline Chi-Square Arts Science Very large Extent 23 (25.00) 21 (19.44) χ2 = 12.333* Large Extent 36 (39.13) 61 (56.48) p= 0.015 Some Extent 26 (28.26) 26 (24.07) df= 4 Less Extent 6 (6.52) 0 (0.0) Table value = 9.49 Very Less Extent 1 (1.09) 0 (0.0) Total 92 (100) 108 (100) The table-3 presents that 36 respondents (39.13%) of Arts and 61 respondents (56.48%) of Science discipline satisfied to a large extent over the digital information sources and services available in the library, 26 respondents each of Arts (28.26%) and Science (24.07%) of discipline satisfied to some extent, 23 respondents (25%) of Arts and 21 respondents (19.44%) of Science discipline satisfied to a very large extent and the remaining respondents satisfied very less extent over the digital information sources and services available in the library. It is concluded that 92% of Arts respondents and 100% of the Science respondents satisfied over the digital information sources and services available in the library. The Chisquare value is significant at 5 per cent level and hence it can be inferred that the level of satisfaction of the respondents over the digital information sources and services available in the library is substantially significant. 182
Opinion on e-resources vs. print sources Now-a-days information is available in the form of e-resources and print sources also available in the libraries. The opinion of the respondents whether the e-resources are convenient than print sources has been elicited and the details are presented in the Table-4. Table-4 Opinion on e-resources vs. print sources Opinion Discipline Chi-Square Arts Science χ2 = 0.107 @ Yes 70 (76.09) 80 (74.07) p= 0.743, df= 1 No 22 (23.91) 28 (25.93) Table value = 3.84 Total 92 (100) 108 (100) The table-4 presents that 70 respondents (76.09%) of Arts and 80 respondents (74.07%) of Science discipline opined that the e-resources are convenient than print sources for their use and 22 respondents (23.91%) of Arts and 28 respondents (25.93%) of Science disciplined opined that the e-resources are convenient than print sources for their use. By and large, 76.09% respondents of Arts and 74.07% respondents of Science discipline opined that the e- resources are convenient than print sources for their use. The Chi-square value is insignificant and hence it can be inferred that the opinion of the e-resources are convenient than print sources is not significant. Reasons for using e-resources The table-5 shows that 76 per cent respondents of arts and 74 per cent respondents of science discipline opined that the e-resources are convenient than print sources for their use. The information on the reasons why the respondents prefer the electronic format compared to print format has been elicited and the details are presented in Table-5. Table-5 Reasons for using e-resources (Electronic Format vs. Print Format) Reasons Discipline Chi-Square Arts Science Easy to use 19 (27.14) 17 (21.25) χ2 = 4.621 @ More informative 10 (14.29) 12 (15.00) p= 0.593 Time Saving 15 (21.43) 15 (18.75) df= 6 Easy to update 18 (25.71) 29 (36.25) Table value = 12.59 Less Expensive 3 (04.29) 1 (01.25) Global Sources at one place 4 (05.71) 6 (07.50) Effective Presentation 1 (01.43) 0 (00.00) Total 70 (100.00) 80 (100.00) The table-5 shows that 19 respondents (27.14%) of Arts and 17 respondents (21.25%) of Science discipline opined that the electronic format is easy to use compared to print format, 18 respondents (25.71%) of Arts and 29 respondents (36.25%) of Science discipline opined that the electronic format is easy to update, 15 respondents(21.43%) of each Arts and Science discipline (18.75%) opined that electronic format is time saving and 10 respondents 183
(14.29%) of Arts and 12 respondents (15%) of Science discipline opined that the electronic format is more informative. It is concluded that majority of the Arts discipline respondents opined that the electronic format is easy to use and majority of the Science discipline respondents opined that the electronic format is easy to update. SUGGESTIONS 1. Only half of the respondents are neutrally satisfied on print and online databases in both print and electronic form in the library to satisfy the users to the maximum extent. 2. The collection of Theses/Dissertations should be improved and availed for consultation of students. 3. Internet facility should be improved university library as well as the departments also for easy access. 4. Nearly half of the respondents are dissatisfied with regard to the Inter-library loan facility, hence Inter-library loan facility should be improved for getting required materials which is not available in their respective library. 5. OPAC facility should be improved to maximum use. 6. Awareness should be created on the use of UGC-INFONET journals and e-resources available in the University library. REFERENCES 1. HAJI AGHAJANI (S) and others. Library resources and services use for study by students of medical Sciences in Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 2006-07. Journal of Medicine Education. 13; 2009; 51-54. 2. BIRADAR (B S) and others. Use of information sources and services in library of Agriculture Science College, Shimoga: a case study. Annals of Library and Information Studies. 56; 2009; 63-68. 3. DEVENDRA KUMAR and RAJKUMAR SINGH. Information resources and services of national science library in India, New Delhi: A user study. International Journal of Library and Information Science. 1; 2009; 017-021. 4. ZAINAB (A N). Library Resources and Services and Publication Productivity. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science. 6; 2001; 71-91. 5. DEVENDRA KUMAR and others. Expectations of Faculty Members and Research Scholars on Library Resources and Services: A Case Study of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. 2010; 1-12. Retrieved on 16 July 2012 at http://www.iclc.us/cliej/cl30khaf.pdf 184